F04D NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
Introduced: September 1968
Classification Context
- Section:
- MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- Class:
- POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- Subclass:
- NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
Description
Non-positive-displacement pumps that operate by converting mechanical energy into fluid motion through dynamic principles rather than trapping fixed fluid volumes. This subclass encompasses centrifugal pumps, axial-flow pumps, mixed-flow pumps, and jet pumps used for transporting liquids and elastic fluids (gases, vapors) in industrial, agricultural, and utility applications. The classification includes pump designs, components, control systems, and performance characteristics, excluding positive-displacement machines covered under F04C which operate by expanding and contracting sealed chambers.
Filing statistics
IPC subclass F04D recorded 249,965 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 13,895 in 2013 to 27,435 in 2023 (+97%), peaking at 32,121 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class F04 are GREE ELECTRIC APPLIANCES (5,351 applications), LG ELECTRONICS (3,502 applications) and ROBERT BOSCH (3,011 applications).
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
18 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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- F04D 1/00 Radial-flow pumps, e.g. centrifugal pumps; Helico-centrifugal pumps
- F04D 11/00 Other rotary non-positive-displacement pumps
- F04D 13/00 Pumping installations or systems
- F04D 15/00 Control, e.g. regulation, of pumps, pumping installations, or systems
- F04D 17/00 Radial-flow pumps specially adapted for elastic fluids, e.g. centrifugal pumps; Helico-centrifugal pumps specially adapted for elastic fluids
- F04D 19/00 Axial-flow pumps specially adapted for elastic fluids
- F04D 21/00 Pumps specially adapted for elastic fluids involving supersonic speed of pumped fluids
- F04D 23/00 Other rotary non-positive-displacement pumps specially adapted for elastic fluids
- F04D 25/00 Pumping installations or systems specially adapted for elastic fluids
- F04D 27/00 Control, e.g. regulation, of pumps, pumping installations or pumping systems specially adapted for elastic fluids
- F04D 29/00 Details, component parts, or accessories
- F04D 3/00 Axial-flow pumps
- F04D 31/00 Pumping liquids and elastic fluids at the same time
- F04D 33/00 Non-positive-displacement pumps with other than pure rotation, e.g. of oscillating type
- F04D 35/00 Pumps producing waves in liquids, i.e. wave-producers
- F04D 5/00 Pumps with circumferential or transverse flow
- F04D 7/00 Pumps adapted for handling specific fluids, e.g. by selection of specific materials for pumps or pump parts
- F04D 9/00 Priming; Preventing vapour lock
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class F04, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- GREE ELECTRIC APPLIANCES 5,351
- LG ELECTRONICS KR 3,502
- ROBERT BOSCH DE 3,011
- MIDEA 2,258
- MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION JP 1,663
- ZHUHAI LANDA COMPRESSOR COMPANY 1,639
- GREE ELECTRIC APPLIANCES, INC.OF ZHUHAI 1,573
- ZHUHAI GREE ENERGY-SAVING REFRIGERATION TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH CENTER COMPANY 1,536
- TOYOTA INDUSTRIES CORPORATION 1,347
- DAIKIN INDUSTRIES 1,325